Louisiana State Officials Call For Troops On Streets

Lawmakers in Louisiana are calling for National Guard troops to patrol the streets of New Orleans after a toddler was killed in a drive-by shooting. The last time troops were involved in domestic law enforcement in the state, they were used to confiscate legally owned firearms in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Keira Holmes Gordon was caught in the crossfire of two separate groups of men in cars who were targeting another man stood near a B. W. Cooper Housing development on Sunday. The toddler, four days shy of her second birthday, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Citing soaring crime levels, state lawmaker Austin Badon Jr. told CNN he “wants the government to step and help control the violence,” by sending troops to patrol troubled areas, although he admitted that just “a select few people” were responsible for the crimes.

The CNN host makes clear that Badon is just one of several officials calling for National Guard troops.
“I have called on the Governor to bring in the National Guard,” said Badon, asserting that residents were “more comfortable” after seeing the Guard patrol the streets in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina.